THE WHEEL MAGICIANFROM RIM SHOT TO SLAM DUNK

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Business is pouring in for The Wheel Magician franchisees

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Jason & Katrina White, The Wheel Magician 'Very happy on every level'

Jason White and his wife Katrina used to be farmers, and Jason was also the production manager for a couple of factories. ‘But I wanted to get away from managing staff, so when we moved into Wanganui I started to look around for a hands-on type job,’ says Jason. ‘I’ve always been mechanically-minded so when I saw The Wheel Magician franchise I had a really good look and decided it was for me.’

The Wheel Magician offers on-site repairs to alloy wheels, combining maximum results for customers with minimum inconvenience and costs. ‘Franchisees take the damaged wheel off the car and repair it in the back of their van using a specially-developed grinding, sanding and repainting process,’ explains Alan Thomas, who founded the franchise with his wife Lisa back in 2010. ‘The aim is to get the wheel back to as close to factory standard as possible. Very small quantities of paint are needed and the end result is a business with very low overheads – no premises required, just a mobile workshop and lots of enthusiasm.’

The combination appealed to Jason and Katrina, who is a senior financial manager by profession, ‘So she not only checked out the franchise – she also handles the accounts,’ grins Jason. ‘I only started in business in September but I’ve been blown away by the potential. I’ve been careful not to over-stretch myself at first, but in only eight weeks I’m getting some really good feedback from the car dealers and I’ve only tapped a small part of my territory.

‘I’m very happy on every level. If you look at the nitty-gritty, just think how many vehicles are on the road every second of the day, and how many are kerbed every hour. Some drivers don’t worry but many do, and one of the pleasures of the job is seeing customers over the moon once we’ve done our magic! Not only are we restoring a car’s looks and value, we’re doing it for a fraction of the cost of a new wheel.

‘Customers like a happy chappie, a good job, and someone who is punctual. Being a bit of a perfectionist is also essential in this business, so I’m doing things slowly at this stage as I build up speed. That means about six wheels per day, but one of my more experienced colleagues is just humming and averaging around 200 wheels a month. He’s living the dream too – he leaves home at 8am, is always home by 4.30pm and rarely works a Saturday. That’s pretty attractive after a seven-day operation like farming, and will still give me time to go fishing!’

Not that Jason is lacking in ambition. ‘I’m planning on getting a second van in about six months for my son to operate, which will build the business further, but frankly I suspect I’ll need a third van with the potential there really is.’

With 11 franchisees already established, The Wheel Magician still has an urgent need for more franchisees. ‘I probably need 15 in Auckland alone as cars keep pouring on to the Auckland roads, but it’s the same in many other areas,’ Alan smiles. ‘We’ve split the country into 50 territories and, as business grows, so franchisees will be able to put on second vans or divide their territories. Either way, it’s a great opportunity for the right people.’

The Wheel Magician franchise costs from $48,950 +gst depending on territory. ‘The fee includes two week’s full training and the complete set of required tools, and the only other requirement is a suitable van. ‘What we need are people with an interest in cars, a knack for solving problems and the desire to get stuck in,’ says Alan. ‘Download your free information pack from our website today, because business is pouring in!’